Olof Mellberg, former Aston Villa legend, begins his role as STL City coach, facing snowy conditions during preseason training in St. Louis.

San Jose firefighters returned Friday from fighting the blazes that have raged across Los Angeles County. The crew was there for a little over a week and spoke of the destruction they witnessed and the gratitude of the people they helped.

SAN JOSE — Hobby Lobby has opened a big new San Jose store, taking over the location of a long-shuttered Bed Bath & Beyond outlet. The arts and crafts store, which espouses conservative and Christian views and values, also displays a “now hiring” sign on the exterior of the store at 5353 Almaden Expressway in south San Jose.

Saturday, Jan. 18 Phoenix at Detroit, 4 p.m. Atlanta at Boston, 7 p.m. Philadelphia at Indiana, 7 p.m. Washington at Golden State, 8:30 p.m. Cleveland at Minnesota, 9 p.m.

Like Alberta clippers scudding across the Great Plains, the winter transactions just keep rolling in across MLS.

Jacksonville St. at Sam Houston St., 3 p.m. Wichita St. at North Texas, 3 p.m. Alcorn St. at Texas Southern, 4 p.m. BYU at Texas Tech, 7 p.m. Grand Canyon at Tarleton St., 8 p.m. Fresno St. at Air Force, 3 p.m. New Mexico at Colorado St., 3 p.m.

The Caltrain NorCalMLK Celebration Train will make its way up the Peninsula from San Jose to San Francisco on Monday, Jan. 20.

San Jose State faces Nevada in MWC play Saturday. Saturday's matchup is the first this season between the two teams.

Captain Jason M. Dahl Elementary School is one of five campuses on a list for potential closure in the Franklin McKinley School District. Officials say cuts are necessary because the district has lost 40% of its student body since 2011.

Mama Kin in downtown San Jose will close its doors. The venue bought in musicians of various styles, hosted karaoke and held country nights.

Rockingham Ranch and David Bernsen's 5-year-old millionaire Newgrange has been elevated to the main field on the final invitation list for the $3.015 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan.

Defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic will play in his 1,300th NHL game Thursday when the San Jose Sharks face the Columbus Blue Jackets